Need advice please- should I go for LVN?

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Hello all, I just registered but have spent a few weeks lurking and reading here and have learned a ton. I know this question has has been asked before and ultimately only I can decide but I really would appreciate any advice. My situation is this: I have my BA in another field, but besides 1 year in a lab have never really done anything with it. I spent much of the last 5 years helping care for my father in his battle against cancer, which he sadly lost, and then my mother who is now a breast cancer survivor. Also in there I had a complicated pregnancy involving 3 months of bedrest, and since my son was born I've stayed home with him. All of these experiences have made me decide to change focus and become a nurse.

I am leaning toward the LVN program because I can complete it in a year, start working and gaining experience, and then continue my education. If I went into an RN program directly I would have to spend a year doing prereqs, and then HOPE I got into one of the impacted programs, and then spend a couple more years before I started actually working. If I got into a direct entry program I could get my master's, but without actual experience it seems like that would be alot of time and money to sink in and I would still have to start as an entry-level RN afterward.

Some family and friends have been supportive, but there have been alot of comments that make me second guess myself too saying LVN's are at the bottom of the pecking order, or I should aim higher. My mom didn't even think LVN's could even give shots or pass meds! My ultimate goal is to someday become a NP, but so what if it takes awhile to get there? Sorry this is so long, and thank you anyone who got to this point and is willing to share their thoughts and advice:heartbeat

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

:welcome: Welcome to our online community! We're glad you're here!

I'm originally from SoCal, and attended a private vocational LVN program in Van Nuys back in 2005 before moving out of state. Anyway, I enrolled in the LVN program because I am my only source of finacial support, and needed to start working quickly. I don't regret my decision in that respect, because I have found some pretty good opportunities that would be unavailable without my LVN licensure. Also, getting a job is easy in my neck of the woods.

Be aware that it might take a little time for you to find an LVN job in SoCal, since the local job market is somewhat flooded with new LVNs that are being churned out of the private schools every few months. However, it is a decent way to dive into entry-level nursing and earn money while you climb the nursing ladder. Good luck to you!

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hello!!!!! although im not a lvn yet i just wanted to give you my insight. i am starting lpn school in fall 08 and i am sooo excited. just because you are going to lpn school and not jumping straight into the rn program does not mean that you are wasting your time. in my case i plan on taking the lpn route so that i gain more hands on experience and decide if this career is really for me. i plan on entering a lpn-rn bridge program right after. just wanted to give you some encouragement. i say go for it! good luck! :up::up::up:

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, LTC.

I'm going to be completely honest with you. Go straight for the RN! You will be glad you did! I'm currently an LPN that is desperately trying to inch my way through school and get that high and mighty RN behind my name. While I am grateful for the experience I have gained as an LPN, I know I'm not where I want to be yet in my career.

I'm sure I'm not the only LPN out there who gets frustrated with how little recognition we get for our work. But you have to do what is best for you. I went to LPN school for my own reasons as did everyone else. And if you do choose to go for the LPN, never settle, continue to further your education!

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Well, what do you want to do and what opportunities are available? Sounds like you are on the right track with sorting out your pros and cons of either choice. I'm currently in LVN school and here's why I made that choice.

My plan is to be an RN. I'd like to get my BSN. I was a buyer/inventory specialist for years but always knew what I wanted to do. I also cross-trained and worked as an EMT for a bit before I got out, and then as a surgical tech as a civilian. When we moved to TX I 1) had a job (buyer) I hated 2) had a baby that hated daycare so I decided now was the time to make the change.

So I weighed my options:

1. Since I'm married to military there is no guarantee that we will be in any one spot for any length of time. 2. We have three children, and I didn't want to put us in the poorhouse with daycare, not to mention what happens if one of them gets sick! 3. We live in an area where it's possible for LVNs to find gainful employment.

Then I looked at schools. The private school I am attending has an evening program Mon-Thurs. I can be at home during the day for the kids. Also, we know we won't have to move before I graduate. Could I have gone straight for the RN? Sure, but I also would have been more stressed, owed more $$, and completely disrupted the kids routines.

Yes, I will be an RN. Nursing isn't going anywhere. About the time I graduate my youngest will be ready for pre-k and I'll have more flexibilty to enter a bridge program. Maybe I'll even get lucky and hook up with a hospital that will help me pay for school ;)

As for the comments, someone will always have something to say no matter what you do. You could be a nurse practitioner and there will be people wondering why you're not a doctor.

Bottom line? Look at your situation...family, money, time, job opportunities, schools...and decide what's right for you. I agree that if you know what you want, so what if it takes you a little bit longer to get there. For me the journey will be a little longer, but more pleasant. Sort of like taking the scenic route.

Kim

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Hi, I was in a similar boat as you. I have a B.S in Biology, I was pre-med and decided to go into nursing. I will be graduating LVN school this April. I decided into LVN because I was tired of getting wait listed in the RN programs and I figured I could have been an LVN already. So I decided to earn my LVN degree and enter a bridge program and while waiting earn money. Now there are some programs that are based on space availability and there is a private one in CA that takes 8 mo for AS in RN. I live in California and face the problem of not being able to take online classes to earn an RN degree. My mom too thought LVN were nurse assistants, told her that was CNAs. I also worked as an EMT while in college and while waiting for RN schools until I decided hello, why wait around, if I can be a nurse a diff way. My suggestion is if you can get into RN program go for it, if money and time is an issue, then go for LVN and cross over. Yes I could get my masters but like you said the skill level is really diff, and the dream hospital I want to work at in Calif won't hire RN who earned it through the master's program. Of course hospitals wont advertise this but I know a person in HR that had mentioned this. But I caution you some RN schools have an expiration date on your prereq which is what I am facing. I either have to retake my expired pre req classes or go for the private school and community colleges.

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Thanks so much everyone for all the replies and advice. I think I am going to try to do a volunteer program and finish my prereqs during the summer/fall, apply to as many RN programs as I qualify for, and then if I don't get in the private schools are always starting LVN programs every 3 or 4 months it seems so I can have that as plan B :nuke:. The LVN program I was looking at that starts in April is 30k (at American Career College), and that's a LOT of money to come up with right now if I'm not 100% sure.

It was a good point also that Commuter made that there are alot of LVN's being pumped out by the trade schools around here, plus there are alot more job openings for RN's. Well, enough rambling lol, thanks all for letting me organize my thoughts and providing some good :heartbeatfeedback

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Hello to all first and foremost...i am currently a Lvn here in the bay area of california...been so since 91 and ive finally made up my mind to continue on to get my Rn...I first started out in CSULB and was on a waiting list for a few year had done my 3 years there before i was even accepted onto the list so i went the other route and got my Lvn first with the intention to go right back the following year...I started working and got caught up with it and didnt go back...so i recommend to all thats shooting to be an Rn to go straight through and dont stop...but as an Lvn one can make a nice income and there are a lot of responsibilities associated with being a Lvn...i work as a local traveling nurse in such fields as med/surg, oncology, pysche and neuro sub-acute....my company offers $35.00 an hour for Lvn's...not too bad huh smiling...good luck to you all in whatever decisions you make.

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Specializes in LTC.

Since you already have a BA, why don't you do an accelerated BSN? It's a 1 year program. Here is a link to one of many schools where you can get this degree: http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/nursing/abs_nursing

Why spend a year on an LVN when you can spend a year on an RN?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Why spend a year on an LVN when you can spend a year on an RN?
Because some people with previous baccalaureate degrees (BA or BS) do not have the grade point average to get accepted into any RN programs, especially if all of the nursing programs in their local area are impacted. Just because someone has a degree, it does not mean that they can gain admission into an RN program.

My friend earned a BS degree in public health about 7 years ago, but her college grade point average of 2.3 was less than stellar. She opted to enroll in an LPN program, rather than spend years trying to make her GPA competitive with the other applicants.

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Specializes in LTC.
Because some people with previous baccalaureate degrees (BA or BS) do not have the grade point average

Point taken.

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